chant

American  

[chant, chahnt] / tʃænt, tʃɑnt /

Obsolete, chaunt

noun

1. a short, simple melody, especially one characterized by single notes to which an indefinite number of syllables are intoned, used in singing psalms, canticles, etc., in church services.

2. a psalm, canticle, or the like, chanted or for chanting.

3. the singing or intoning of all or portions of a liturgical service.

4. any monotonous song.

5. a song; singing.

   the chant of a bird.

6. a monotonous intonation of the voice in speaking.

7. a phrase, slogan, or the like, repeated rhythmically and insistently, as by a crowd.

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verb (used with object)

1. to sing to a chant, or in the manner of a chant, especially in a church service.

2. to sing.

3. to celebrate in song.

4. to repeat (a phrase, slogan, etc.) rhythmically and insistently.

verb (used without object)

1. to sing.

2. to utter a chant.

chant British  

/ tʃɑːnt /

noun

1. a simple song or melody

2. a short simple melody in which several words or syllables are assigned to one note, as in the recitation of psalms

3. a psalm or canticle performed by using such a melody

4. a rhythmic or repetitious slogan, usually spoken or sung, as by sports supporters, etc

5. monotonous or singsong intonation in speech

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verb

1. to sing or recite (a psalm, prayer, etc) as a chant

2. to intone (a slogan) rhythmically or repetitiously

3. to speak or say monotonously as if intoning a chant

Other Word Forms

• chantable adjective
• chanting noun
• chantingly adverb
• half-chanted adjective
• unchanted adjective

Etymology

Origin of chant

First recorded in 1350–1400; (verb) Middle English chanten, from Middle French chanter, from Latin cantāre, frequentative of canere “to sing”; (noun) from French chant, from Latin cantus; canto

Example Sentences

Protesters who chant and blow whistles, which is often aimed at calling attention to an ICE operation and warning people in the area of their presence.

From Salon

Protesters waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans squared off with police outside the event.

From Barron's

Seahawks fans, known as the 12s for their role as an extra game influencer beyond the 11 players on the field, chanted the team's name as they delivered a parade sendoff.

From Barron's

We listened from our hotel balcony as chants of "God is greatest" rose from rooftops and roared from windows.

From BBC

Her horrible warnings whirled around in his head, and her strange, droning chant seemed to have been burned into his brain.

From Literature

Related Words

• hymn
• mantra
• melody
• shout
• singing
• tune